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Post by fernwood on Nov 6, 2019 14:48:45 GMT -5
Previously I had posted about a critter I was trying to get rid of. Yesterday I was under Dr. orders to alternate standing/walking with laying on a hard surface. So, I did a stake out of sorts. I stood very quietly next to my dining room light switch. Waited to hear the critter. Then turned on the light. Saw a red squirrel! No wonder none of the rodent poison or traps have worked.
I had previously looked for any holes in walls or outside of house.
Everything is becoming clear now.
I have been hearing what I thought was part of my metal roofing making noises. Thought that the roof might have been damaged in the July storms and was no longer fully attached to the roof. Am still waiting for the contractor to check that out.
When my chimney style furnace was replaced in 2017 with a direct vent style, the old furnace was not removed. The chimney was not capped off. There are still some of the old ducts/cold air returns attached to the old furnace.
I have also heard what sounded like someone running in my upper level. Also critters in my walls.
So, I think the squirrel entered the house through the chimney. Then found an open duct. Chewed through something to gain access to house.
There is one place I have not checked yet for compromise. Under one of my kitchen cabinets there is a heat vent. The cabinet is about 30" deep and the vent is attached to the wall. I wonder if the squirrel was able to push the vent open?
I am happy to know the critter is not a rat, but getting rid of a squirrel could be tough.
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Post by greig on Nov 6, 2019 19:47:40 GMT -5
I bet you have more than one. They are easy to trap. A good bait is peanut butter. You will have to block their access points. For sure they can open a vent if there is not a screen. If you are not using the vent then put a cap on it. They don't need a very large hole to enter a home (probably the size of a quarter). If there are small holes, you can fill them with steel wool and then blast in some sealer. Good luck with your project.
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Post by Pat on Nov 6, 2019 21:33:38 GMT -5
Hmmmm, I think squirrels are rodents, and smart.
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Post by RickB on Nov 6, 2019 22:05:56 GMT -5
Squirrel stew - need a recipe.
Slow Cooker Squirrel and Veggies
Prep: 25 m Cook: 8 h Ready In: 8 h 25 m Recipe By: kdsutton
"This slow-cooked squirrel is a no brainer for a first-time cooker of squirrel. My husband and 2 sons were very impressed as if I had been making this dish my entire life. The meat will fall off the bone."
Ingredients: 1 onion, cut into chunks 2 cups baby carrots 4 large potatoes, cut into small chunks 1 large green bell pepper, cut into chunks 2 cloves garlic 4 cubes chicken bouillon salt and pepper to taste 3 squirrels - skinned, gutted, and cut into pieces water to cover 2 tablespoons flour
Directions Place the onion, carrots, potatoes, bell pepper, garlic, chicken bouillon, salt, and pepper in a slow cooker. Lay the squirrel meat on top of the vegetable mixture. Pour enough water over the mixture to cover completely. Cover and cook on HIGH 6 hours. Stir the flour into the mixture and cook another 2 hours.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2019 Allrecipes.com Printed From Allrecipes.com 11/7/2019
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Nov 7, 2019 9:02:10 GMT -5
Get some live traps and bait them with peanut butter and maybe a few raw peanuts stuck in there. They LOVE peanuts! The peanut butter smell will lure them in, but the peanuts will make them go in the cage.
When we lived on the mountain, Vince and I would catch rock squirrels in a live trap and transport them down the mountain and let them go. Rock squirrels will burrow under the house foundation and cause problems. We used peanut butter as the bait. Never caught an Abert's squirrel in there (the ones with the long fuzzy ears), but we would occasionally catch Pepe looking for a snack.
The Aberts absolutely loved peanuts, though!
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Post by RickB on Nov 7, 2019 9:21:48 GMT -5
Had some pet squirrels when I was a kid. They loved peanuts and they also liked slices of apple.
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Post by fernwood on Nov 7, 2019 9:50:20 GMT -5
I have had a live trap baited with peanut butter in kitchen for over a month. No takers. Another live trap with rodent poison. No takers. Live trap with "guaranteed" rodent bait with no takers. I have never seen a red squirrel this large before and I grew up and later liven in an area with many.
Might need to get professional help on this one.
Last night the squirrel unhooked my locking kitchen garbage can and deposited about 1/2 of contents on kitchen/dining floor.
Just what I need right now.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Nov 7, 2019 9:52:45 GMT -5
If he's that cunning, definitely get a professional exterminator to take care of the bugger. Sometimes it's worth dishing out the $ to just get it taken care of, especially when you're dealing with health issues.
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Post by fernwood on Nov 7, 2019 12:52:27 GMT -5
Was in bathroom today and saw eyes peering through the heat vent. Also heard some strange noises. That confirmed the heat vent infestation.
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